New cabinet, three DCMs the ‘best pack’ — Fadillah - Mukah Pages : Media Marketing Make Easy With 24/7 Auto-Post System. Find Out How It Was Done!

Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof

KUCHING: The new Sarawak cabinet line-up has been hailed as the “best choice line-up” for continuity of the Barisan Nasional leadership under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Sarawak BN Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who said this, also commended the appointment of three deputy chief ministers in the new cabinet announced by Adenan on Friday compared to only one in the previous cabinet.

“The appointment of three deputy chief ministers for Sarawak is very timely, because this will further strengthen the state government’s administration in implementing the pledges made in the just-concluded 11th State Election, and subsequently deliver the best service to Sarawakians.

“The pairing of Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (DCM1) – who is very experienced at Federal level – together with Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (DCM3)and Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing (DCM2) who are very experienced at the state level, is the best combination to assist the chief minister in implementing his new policies that always prioritise the needs of the people.

“We in BN Youth believe the new line-up of cabinet ministers, with their accumulated years of experience at both state and federal, will further spur the rural transformation process (RTP) and take Sarawak to a higher development stage. They are the best line-up for Sarawak to achieve a developed and high income state,” said Fadillah, who is also federal Works Minister yesterday.

He also said the new cabinet also saw Adenan honouring his promise to appoint more Chinese representatives in the cabinet if the Chinese community returned their support to the BN.

Adenan on Friday announced Uggah, Masing and Abang Johari as his three deputies. Uggah also holds the portfolio of Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Rural Economy, Masing is now Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, while Abang Johari is given the dual portfolio of Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Minister of Housing and Urbanisation.

Adenan himself retained his portfolios as Minister of Finance and Minister of Resource Planning and Environment.

Adenan also kept his promise to appoint Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian as minister if the latter were to be elected. Dr Sim was appointed Minister of Local Government, while another Chinese representative Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has been retained as Second Finance Minister.

Awang Tengah was appointed as Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment, and retained as Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment, Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong as Minister of Youth, Sports and Solidarity, Datuk Fatimah Abdullah as Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing and Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi promoted as Minister of Public Utilities.

However, Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan, who was Social Development Minister in the last cabinet, was not retained. This fuelled speculation that Mawan will be appointed as federal minister to replace Uggah who was federal Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister.